Lawful development certificate

Peterxxxx

Thanks for these replies -- I think it is a HMO (at least, the rooms are rented out room by room to individual tenants/couples and there are around 7 in the 5 rooms of the house). The landlord does not live there at the moment (I hear from a tenant that this might change if the structure is built). If anyone knows if that counts as an HMO for legal purposes, that would be very helpful... It's pretty clear to me that whatever this thing is being built for, this will have residential implications as even if it's not for sleeping (which I've been told it will be for), the extra space helps justify cramming more tenants into the house, but I'm not sure the council will see it this way...

This will be right next to my fence - but the planned height is just under 2.5m. However, he has already constructed a huge concrete platform as a base which will take it above that height, I think, assuming that is added to the measurement.

Thanks again...

planning_officer

If it is a HMO, then it's worth writing to the Council, pointing out how many people live there and how they live - do they share facilities etc? (Just in case the Council have no record of it being a HMO and think it's a single dwelling still). If the Council agree it is a HMO, then the application would be refused, as the structure would need planning permission.

Also worth pointing out to the Council that even if they consider the property to be a single dwelling (and therefore benefits from permitted development rights), a concrete slab has been laid that takes the overall height of the structure to over 2.5m above ground level. If any part of the structure is within 2m of the boundary, this would not comply with Criterion (d)(ii) of Class E of Part 1, Schedule 2 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995. as amended in 2008. This only applies if it is a dwelling though - not if it's a HMO.

Peterxxxx

Thanks, planning-officer. Have already sent off the letter stating both of these and also putting on record concerns about use so that I can contact enforcement if necessary down the road.